Regional airlines are doomed!

[Speedtape]

General Lee adds educational, informational, and entertainment value to this forum. You might not like what he says, but he is usually right. He brings levity to the table, and all of you hang on to every word that he writes, even the prepositions. He's quick on his toes, and is not easily bested. He is one of the most interesting men in the world. He doesn't drink beer often, but when he does, he prefers Dos Equis! Stay thirsty my friend!

 

[General Lee]

General Lee adds educational, informational, and entertainment value to this forum. You might not like what he says, but he is usually right. He brings levity to the table, and all of you hang on to every word that he writes, even the prepositions. He's quick on his toes, and is not easily bested. He is one of the most interesting men in the world. He doesn't drink beer often, but when he does, he prefers Dos Equis! Stay thirsty my friend!

Get that mountain lion off the kitchen table!


Bye Bye--- General Lee

 

[outerlimits]

Thanks, you too. I haven't heard any request for scope easing, and with the strong profits I don't expect it. AMR had a lot less 70 seaters, which I expect them to get more, but at the same time dump less efficient E135s and E140s. It may be a wash in terms of numbers, but the larger RJs will increase, IMO. I don't think even the judge would go for even larger RJs, probably looking at peer airlines as a baseline.


Bye Bye----General Lee

You are so lost. The reason you don't hear anything is because its a given, like breathing.


RJ size at all the airlines is just going to get bigger and bigger.

I think I would look nice sitting in a new MD or 737

 

[JumpersAway]

You are so lost. The reason you don't hear anything is because its a given, like breathing.


RJ size at all the airlines is just going to get bigger and bigger.

I think I would look nice sitting in a new MD or 737

................................introducing new 737 RJ service to Valdosta. Everybody gets "Lay Flat Seating" on our new, larger, 50 seat jet. Think how well rested you'll be on that 30 minute flight from Atlanta to L.A. (Lower Alabama).

 

[Freebrd]

uh VLD is in lower Ga but I know what u meant

 

[JumpersAway]

uh VLD is in lower Ga but I know what u meant

.........they spit chew out the window of their moving pickup truck regardless : )

 

[Freebrd]

they don't use a bottle like some of our 'bacca-chewing pilot brethren??????

 

[JumpersAway]

they don't use a bottle like some of our 'bacca-chewing pilot brethren??????

Not if the "windr" rolls down. I believe the chew stains down the driver's side door are termed "Alabama racing stripes".

 

[Freebrd]

I'm talk in' bout in our aeroplanes, pilots who chew in dem.

 

[Speedtape]

Regional Pilots Rock On

 

[Freebrd]

real regional pilots chew

 

[Gillegan]

The economic viability of small jets is, and always has been suspect. Their fuel cost per seat is high and what made them attractive in the past, their lower employee cost reduces as the regionals mature and their longevity costs increase. As fuel cost increases, the profit equation tips towards the red. No real surpise there but there is another factor looming on the horizon, the fact that over the next 10 years or so, there will be a huge number of retirements at the majors. I realize that talk of a pilot shortage seems like Ahab's great white whale to someone who has been stuck at the regionals for a while but the numbers don't lie. With fewer and fewer people entering our profession, there is going to be a problem and people at the majors know it. What they are going to try to do is solve their problems at your expense.

Prediction: As retirements increase, the majors are going to begin acquiring the regionals that they don't already have and offer to integrate the pilots onto their lists but with conditions that amount to a permanent B-Scale. They will wait until the last minute, play different groups off against each other and leave you with the choice of less-than-desirable conditions or no job. The majors solve their staffing problems and reduce their unit pilot costs at the same time. The variable is going to be how the regional pilots manage the process and protect their interests. ALPA will be no help, they really never have. It won't have to be a disaster for Regional pilots if they recognize this and work together to protect themselves.

 

[COOPERVANE]

Unfortunately, I don't think pilots will ever work together. We have always been our worst enemy.